Joe Schmidt named the new Ireland coach

Dublin: Joe Schmidt, who led Leinster to back-to-back Heineken Cup titles, was named as the new Ireland national team coach by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) on Monday.

New Zealand-born Schmidt replaces Declan Kidney who stood down after Ireland won only one game in this year’s Six Nations and after the IRFU announced they would not be renewing his contract.

The IRFU announced the appointment on their website and said there would be a 6pm (UAE) news conference with the former headmaster, who has taken Leinster to the final of the Amlin Cup this season.

Schmidt, widely admired for his attacking philosophy having also served on the coaching staff at Clermont Auvergne in France and New Zealand’s Auckland Blues, was the expected replacement despite having previous run-ins with the Irish Union over overseas player limits for the regional sides.